Chapter 102: Is This Place Legitimate?
Su Xiao leaned against the inner wall of the Attribute Enhancement Pod. Having just enhanced his attributes, he felt somewhat weak all over and needed a few minutes to recover.
Using this rest time, he examined the options before him.
Overwhelming Power: Strength +
Muscle Frenzy: Increases attack speed by 10%.
Fighting Spirit: +5 during Strength attribute checks. (Only increases during Strength checks)
Undying Breath: Increases chance to break free from control skills by 20%.
Overwhelming Power directly increasing Strength was a good choice. Muscle Frenzy increased attack speed, suitable for Berserker-type warriors. Su Xiao aimed for striking enemy weak points and killing in one blow, so the second option was ruled out.
The third option seemed decent, but it paled in comparison to the fourth.
It was now a choice between one and four. While 2 attribute points were valuable, Su Xiao leaned more towards the fourth option, Undying Breath: Increases chance to break free from control skills by 20%.
For a lone wolf like Su Xiao, the biggest fear was being controlled and focused down. Once that happened, he was dead for sure.
Therefore, 'Increases chance to break free from control skills by 20%' became exceptionally precious.
Ultimately, Su Xiao chose the fourth option. The options before him disappeared, and he vaguely felt a change in his body, an indescribable and inexplicable change.
He clenched his fist, and a series of crisp cracking sounds came from it. Su Xiao nodded in satisfaction. The 20 points of Strength were incomparable to before.
The sudden increase of 6 points in Strength made him feel full of power, as if he could shatter a mountain with one punch.
Su Xiao frowned. The feeling of being unable to control his body properly due to the massive attribute increase had returned. It seemed he needed to go to the Trial Grounds to get used to it.
But he couldn't go to the Trial Grounds just yet. Su Xiao still had other abilities to enhance. It would be most efficient to enhance all abilities first, then go to the Trial Grounds to adapt to everything at once.
Su Xiao didn't rush to leave the Attribute Enhancement Pod. After paying 100 Paradise Coins, the sealed pod made of special metal was very safe. No one else could enter except him.
He took a skill scroll from his storage space and used it.
Skill Four
Heart's Eye: Level 1 (Passive)
Effect 1: Greatly enhances perception. 5% chance to sense attacks from behind.
Effect 2: 1% chance to capture an enemy's opening during attack or defense. Upon successfully capturing an opening, enters the 'Ultra Limit' state.
Ultra Limit: Briefly unleashes all potential. Effect lasts 2 seconds. Cooldown: 24 hours.
...
Su Xiao wasn't surprised after reading the skill description for Heart's Eye.
Based on the current situation, the Heart's Eye skill wasn't strong, or rather, it was somewhat weak. But the reality wasn't so.
Heart's Eye was only at level 1, its most initial stage. Although its compatibility with the Shadow of Law Destruction was high, Heart's Eye wasn't a skill of the Shadow of Law Destruction.
To upgrade Heart's Eye, he just needed to go next door. It only consumed Paradise Coins, not requiring Soul Crystals (Small).
Only skills of the Shadow of Law Destruction required Soul Crystals (Small) to upgrade. Normal skills only needed Paradise Coins.
Su Xiao pondered for a moment, hesitating whether to directly upgrade the Heart's Eye skill.
Most skills learned in Reincarnation Paradise needed to be raised to a high level to show their effects. If he didn't upgrade Heart's Eye, his effort in obtaining those two blue items would be wasted.
Su Xiao walked out of the Attribute Enhancement Hall and arrived at the door of the Skill Upgrade Hall, which was said to make people pale at the mere mention of it.
As for why it made people pale, it was because upgrading skills here was very expensive.
Similar to the Attribute Enhancement Hall, the Skill Upgrade Hall was imposing, like a palace. Pillars stood tall inside the hall, which was over ten meters high, and the clean floor even reflected clear images.
Unlike the Attribute Enhancement Hall, this place wasn't deserted. Occasionally, Contractors could be seen entering and exiting.
Just as Su Xiao stepped into the Skill Upgrade Hall, a silver-haired bunny-eared girl greeted him. The bunny ears on her head didn't look like a headpiece; the furry ears would occasionally twitch. Her black-and-white maid outfit was quite eye-catching, and the black stockings wrapped around her long legs were even more tempting.
"Greetings, Contractor-sama. I am Worker No. 0103, Little Bunny."
The silver-haired bunny-eared girl trotted up to Su Xiao, bowed to him first, revealing a large expanse of fair cleavage.
Su Xiao was a bit surprised. He came to upgrade skills, not to visit a brothel. What was this temptation of bunny ears + uniform + big chest?
"Contractor-sama must be visiting the Skill Upgrade Hall for the first time. I am the receptionist here and will introduce the relevant matters to you for free."
The silver-haired bunny-eared girl's voice was soft, her face wore a sweet smile, and she made a gesture of invitation.
"What services... ahem, what functions do you have here?"
Su Xiao cleared his throat and looked at the silver-haired bunny-eared girl.
"Sir, this is a legitimate institution certified by Reincarnation Paradise, not what you imagine. Although I know this outfit is a bit embarrassing.
Contractor-samas face great danger in derivative worlds, with their nerves highly tense. Therefore, within the relevant facilities of Reincarnation Paradise, we try to make all Contractor-samas feel as relaxed as possible."
The silver-haired bunny-eared girl led the way, giving Su Xiao a detailed introduction to the Skill Upgrade Hall.
There were two main areas here: one was the Active Skill Upgrade Area, and the other was the Passive Skill Upgrade Area.
"Contractor-sama, this is the Passive Skill Upgrade Area. You can choose any Skill Upgrade Pod here. However, you should note that you will experience a brief daze when upgrading skills. That is normal."
The silver-haired bunny-eared girl led Su Xiao towards a Skill Upgrade Pod, chatting with him as they walked.
"Sir, you must really like rabbits, right? I am a genuine Rabbit-Ear Tribe member. Very charming and cute~."
"Uh, I guess so. But I prefer eating braised rabbit head."
As soon as Su Xiao finished speaking, he found the silver-haired bunny-eared girl looking at him pitifully.
Her gaze seemed to say, 'Bunnies are so cute, why do you want to eat bunnies?'
Arriving before the Skill Upgrade Pod, the silver-haired bunny-eared girl quickened her pace and proactively opened the Skill Upgrade Pod for Su Xiao. Her service was very attentive.
"May you grow stronger quickly, Sir."
The silver-haired bunny-eared girl bowed. Leading the way + showing skin + acting cute + explaining, she had been quite busy along the way.
Su Xiao transferred 10 Paradise Coins to her as a tip.
"Thank you, Contractor-sama."
The silver-haired bunny-eared girl smiled sweetly, this time genuinely from the heart.
Su Xiao said nothing, turned around, and entered the Skill Upgrade Pod. The pod door closed, and a virtual screen appeared before him.
Su Xiao only had (Heart's Eye) that could be upgraded here, so he directly selected Heart's Eye.
Seeing the price to upgrade Heart's Eye, Su Xiao thought to himself how expensive it was. No wonder other Contractors talked about it with dread.
"Upgrade."
After deducting 1000 Paradise Coins, Su Xiao felt his surroundings grow dim. He was immersed in a darkness, and his body gradually merged into the darkness, leaving only a beating heart floating in mid-air.
At that moment, he seemed able to perceive everything around him with his 'heart.' He perceived the darkness and the faint light drifting within it.
Five minutes later, Su Xiao regained consciousness.
He checked the Heart's Eye skill. The values had slightly increased. A single level-up didn't show a significant change.
Su Xiao continued upgrading the Heart's Eye skill. The feeling of being in darkness appeared again.
When Heart's Eye reached level 5, a notification from Reincarnation Paradise appeared.
1. Slightly increase perception.
2. Increase chance to sense attacks from behind by 5%.
3. Increase chance to capture an enemy's opening during attack or defense by 1%.
Su Xiao decisively chose the second option, 'Increase chance to sense attacks from behind by 5%.'
He was of pure human bloodline, so it was impossible for him to grow eyes on the back of his head.
Su Xiao didn't stop after raising Heart's Eye to level 5. He chose to continue upgrading.
He planned to max out the Heart's Eye skill today. For a melee fighter, the Heart's Eye skill was nothing short of a divine skill.
Seeing the upgrade cost, Su Xiao felt a pang of heartache, but he could only grit his teeth and persevere.